3 tips for proposals that close

Landscaping estimates or proposals are similar to contracts, but they have some key differences: a landscaping proposal is non-binding, which means that either party can change their mind, even if they agree to it. On the other hand, a landscaping contract includes technical legal terms such as disclaimers, warranties and payment terms.

While it is not required, we recommend that you include as many details as possible, including your landscape design, landscaping costs, material costs, labor costs and more. This helps build trust with your customer that you have gone into a lot of detail to understand their needs.

Having a landscaping proposal template is a great way to streamline your process, to make sure you respond quickly to potential clients, and to ensure that you are consistently professional proposal. A template keeps all of the key aspects of your proposal the same, for example the introduction, conclusion as well as the color scheme. This saves you time and automates all the repetitive work, so that you can focus on just the details of landscaping job.

In Duranta you can set up any number of professional templates, and you can also set up re-usable snippets which make it easy to swap out different aspects of the job.

A landscaping proposal (also known as a landscaping estimate), is a non-binding document that clearly outlines the landscaping services that you expect to perform for your customer. It is designed to give an idea of the scope of work, to indicate how much the job would cost, and help the customer understand what to expect. It is also designed to help you sell, and this is how it is different from a landscaping contract.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Use a map to show your customer exactly where you are going to put install that patio, lay that fresh mulch, or what parts of the lawn you will fertilize. A visual gives the customer an easy way to quickly imagine what you would do for them, and allows them to follow up with you if they want any changes.

A visual can also be a form of a scope of work: by looking at a simple map your customer will better understand the job site, know exactly what landscaping work will be performed, and have a better understanding of how the work will proceed.

Whether you are installing fine dark mulch, a beautiful Duranta plant or a premium walkway, give customers the details of why you chose those materials for them. This is most important for premium goods: include product brochures or manuals to explain why they should be willing to pay higher material costs.

It is important to get detailed not just about the specific landscaping job, that you are quoting, but also generally about your background. If you have any professional landscaping certifications, belong to any industry associations, or have any landmark landscaping projects that you have completed, you can include these in the introduction or conclusion of your proposal.

Take the opportunity to say a few words about your landscaping business. What is behind your company name? What sorts of landscaping services do you provide? What processes do you go through to ensure you deliver quality landscape maintenance, hardscaping or other landscape services? These should all be included in your proposal.

Lindsey Ullman, SVP of Product at Angi’s emphasizes that homeowners are more likely to choose your company if they believe that “you have the skills to do the job and will act with integrity.” Including an “About Us” section is an great way to show your customers what you stand for, and why they can trust you. You can share things like what is by your landscaping company name, what sort of landscaping services you provide, and

It is easy to forget to include basic information like your phone number, your company name, the client’s name and address: don’t make that mistake! You want your information to always be readily available for your customers to find and contact you.

A proposal template is more than just a list of prices, it is a way for you to continue selling to your customer even after you have left the customer’s job site. Make sure to include details, show visuals and to tell your story to build trust with your customer.